
Class IP£S5Ii_ 
Book, /)Tl?"7?5 ' 
Goipglit}^? 

CCBOilGHT DEPOSm 



jElitier fiepigon 
and Ot'btv CoemsJ 




By 

jRohert Otoen pointer 




Published 6y 
A. C. Vroman, Inc. 

PASADENA, CALIFORNIA 






COPYRIGHT 1917 

By MRS. ROBERT O, FOSTER 

MINNEAPOLIS 



FEB -7 i9i8 



©CI. 



A49SlO!j 



nM> I 



Grand, majestic river, sweeping 
From the north in beauty's keeping, 

Listen to my simple song. 
It will tell the love I bear thee; 
Tell the lesson thou hast taught me. 

Tell thy courage, wondrous strong. 

O'er the rocks thy voice is tragic, 
Deep and thund'rous; and its magic 

Awes, inspires, puts fear to rout; 
Though at this thou dost not worry. 
But, emerged from foam and flurry 

Soon again dost laugh and shout. 

Obstacles of huge dimension 
Fill thy pathway with pretension. 

Stern with strife and dark dismay. 
Yet by this thou art the gainer; 
For it shows thy dimples plainer 

All along thy sparkling way. 

Now and then, thy spirit slumbers; 
Lol thy charms in countless numbers 

Weave their soothing spell o'er life; 
Sweet contentment comes a-stealing 
O'er thy face, so fair, revealing 

Perfect peace, no trace of strife. 



There is something in thy dashing. 
Dancing waters, ever splashing. 

That suggests eternal Spring. 
They keep shouting, bounding, leaping. 
While time, centuries, is reaping. 

Still the same glad song they sing. 

Grand old river, how I love thee I 
How I love thy joyous medley 

Bursting forth in happy song I 
It brings peace in generous measure; 
Brings back boyhood's spring of pleasure 

When the days were young euid long. 

Thy glad anthem will be ringing 
In man's heart forever, bringing 

Aspirations pure and high ; 
Ages hence as he shall weinder 
On thy banks, he'll muse and ponder 

O'er thy grandeur, same as I. 



Voice of tlje Hepigon 

By the river's rushing waters. 
Flowing grandly to the sea, 

I hear voices calling ever. 
Ever calling soft to me. 

Where its waters break in tumult. 

In its rapids' sullen roar. 
In the thunder of its whirlpools, 

I can hear it o'er and o'er. 

In its mood of rest and quiet. 
Where its currents gently flow. 

In the murmur of its ripples. 

It calls "Mamie" sweet and low. 

And the pines along its margin, 
Tall, majestic, solemn, grand. 

Whisper "Mamie" as their harpstrings 
Are swept o'er by God's own hand. 

When the first bright rays of morning. 
Pierce the East in golden streams. 

Music faint and rare calls "Mamie," — 
Nature waking from her dreams. 



All day long, in rhythmic measure. 
Sings the river this sweet lay. 

Crooning, musing o'er my secret. 
As it threads its winding w^ay. 

And at eve the restless river 
Still chants on the glad refrain, 

While on high, with smiling favor. 
Listening stars in splendor reign. 

And her name to me is music. 
Sweetest song on earth, by far. 

And in doubt, in gloom or sorrow. 
Is my hope, my guide, my star. 



t3rut(i 

About five hundred thousand years ago. 
According to the best of humain ken, 

On mother earth, with reason weak and low. 
Appeared the crude, primordial race of men. 

These early, savage tribes, with vision small. 
Performed their part in nature's drama long. 

And vied with each the other to inthrall, 
And make the weak a vassal to the strong. 

The annals of these warring clans of men. 

Their feuds, their conquests, their oppression 
base. 

Through the long flight of ages, now as then. 
Besmirch the records of the human race. 

The master work of man's impassioned brain. 
The very breath of genius heaven-sent. 

Fell prey to the remorseless thirst for gain. 
And mortal power was to destruction lent. 

The same relentless w^ars are waged today. 
On more inhuman plans than e'er before. 

By leaders of the highest cultural sway. 

For same ignoble cause — the lust for more. 



Too many false, inconstant faiths, since man, 
In doubt and fear, first marked time's rapid 
flight. 

Too little love of truth since he began 

His weary toiling upward through the night. 

To countless, unreal Gods he knelt in prayer. 
While down the ages crept his bloody trail, 

And importuned these myths of earth and air 
To make his cause the cause that should 
prevail. 

Truth is the only shrine where man should kneel 
And swear its sacred tenets to defend, 

*Tis Truth, and Truth alone, that brings the 
weal 
That doth all other blessings far transcend. 

When mankind knows this adage old, divine. 
That God is Truth unto the very end. 

Then will the warring nations seek that shrine, 
And lol in truth shall man be man's best 
friend. 



'Go a Uabp on B^r Qigfytittb 
Bittdbap 

Full four score years have come and gone 
Since first God's sun your head shone on; 
Yet, still within your heart reigns June 
With all life's interests full in tune. 

When duty calls, no way so long. 
But gladly with a smile and song 
The path with willing feet you tread. 
By God's own hand securely led. 

The changing years benignly bring 
Into your heart youth's hopeful spring. 
That ever hears through winter's gloom 
The promise of the rosebud's bloom. 

A lesson to us all you teach. 

That aids our yearning souls to reach 

Those longed-for heights, from where you see 

Life's real and true philosophy. 



t5t)e liififtt of preebom 

Seel the Light of Freedom gilds the land and seal 
How it thrills the nations 1 How it stirs the free: 
Higher, higher mounting, sacred Flame of Right, 
Light earth's darkest corners with thy radiance 
bright. 

In the coming splendor of thy gracious sway 
Falsehood and oppression shall for Truth make way; 
Mighty in thy edict of just rights for all. 
Mankind, free and grateful, shall thee savior call. 

As God's sun eternal smiles upon the rose. 
And to every blossom equal favor shows. 
So brave Light of Freedom shine for mortals all. 
And with even measure let thy blessings fall. 



t3o JOr- QbtDarb E- Hnsle 

Dear old friend of long ago. 
Just a word to let you know 
That 1 still recall the joys 
Which were yours and mine as boys. 
Oh, those olden, golden ties I 
What a wealth of promise lies 
In the rapture of the themes 
That we weave in youthful dreams. 
Have our vows to make a name, 
That might justly honors claim. 
Been fulfilled? Is worth our own? 
Have we reaped as we have sown? 

Have w^e won or have we lost? 

Ah, the struggle. Ah, the cost 

Of the goal that now is ours; 

Late and early, hour by hours. 

Day by days and year by years. 

Yearning, striving, without tears 

Have we fought to hold the prize 

Once so dear to boyish eyes. 

Yes, we've won; the vision bright 

Takes the form of life and light 

Of our being, rich w^ith sense 

That ours is ours through recompense. 



In the pride of manhood's sway 
Let us not forget the way 
Which our feet have plodded o'er. 
Bleeding, tired, bruised and sore. 
Let us rather make this path 
Less exposed to winds of wrath 
That from Fate's dread caverns creep 
And o'er helpless mortals sweep. 
Let us help them up the height. 
Let us guide them through the night 
Of their troubles, to the dawn 
Fortune's sun is smiling on. 

Let us hold with bands of steel 
Every hope that true hearts feel 
For the friends of springtime's youth- 
Boyhood friends are friends in truth. 
Let us keep their mem'ry green, 
Let no strife e'er come between, 
And a helping hand extend 
When in stress they need a friend. 
So, old chum of long ago. 
Just these lines to let you know 
That my heart still sings the praise 
Of the friend of other days. 



I Mom 

**I will** shall be our watchword; 

We will make it stronger grow. 
As long as life's left in us, 

As long as brave hearts know 
That for every true endeavor. 

That for every honest try, 
A recompense is waiting 

For the man of do or die. 

**I will** w^e*ll keep a-saying, 

And repeat it o*er and o*er. 
Till grim determination 

Is ours for evermore. 
We will keep this slogan ringing. 

Till its spirit, good and strong. 
Filters into each life*s purpose. 

Is a part of each heart's song. 



**I will be strong and manly, 

I will be brave and true, 
I will make life worth living, 

I will be God's true blue.** 
We have the satisfaction 

Of knowing, soon or late, * 
That the law of justice ever 

Will our efforts compensate. 

For the Hand that sways the lilies, 

"Stills the storms" on land and sea. 
Paints the colors in the rainbow. 

Plants the flowers on mount and lea. 
Is the Hand that metes out justice; 

Makes it plain and clear as day. 
That each good and true endeavor 

Shall receive in full its pay. 



peberatfon of tfte "Worlb 

In war's sky Faith's star of Freedom 
Brightly beams in darkest gloom. 

Through the mists of doubt it glimmers, 
Lo, Hope's wondrous flowers bloom. 

And their perfume calls to being 
Noble love born to forgive, 

Thrilling hearts with lofty promise, 
That the Truth at last shall live. 

Now the nations clash in fury. 
And forget, as common clan, 

That as comrades, they should labor 
For the brotherhood of man. 

Seel they trample Truth and Reason 
In the dust before God's throne. 

All-forgetful that tomorrow 

For their deeds they must atone. 

Blindly led by superstition. 
Cringing to a doubtful creed. 

Can there be but little wonder 

They are drunk with spoil and greed ? 



All progression in creation 

Has been wrought in travail sore, 
Nature labored, and the mountain 

Graoid, majestic, lofty, bore. 

Man into this world of beauty 

Came in childbirth's stress and pain- 
Birth of Universal Freedom 

Must be fraught with Spartan strain. 

The democracy of nations, 

Mankind's common weal for all 

Will arise from out wars* carnage. 
Truth shall Peace and Love install. 

Truth, supreme and universal. 

Rising clear man's doubt above. 
Shall tell sordid sons of battle 

To remember, "God is Love." 

Truth and Love at last will triumph. 
And their Banners be unfurled 

Over one united people. 
Federation of the world. 



H t3oaj!t 

In sparkling water, pure and clear, 
I drink thy health, my love, my dear, 
A symbol of my love for thee 
And for thy maiden purity. 

While other friends may drink to thee 
In mellow wines from o'er the sea, 
I choose the drink that makes the dew. 
The dew, like thee, so pure and true. 



Queen of TX7alitin=B^im 

Where the brightest flowers blossom. 
And the birds' sweet voices chime 

With the waves soft, rhythmiic singing. 
Lives the Queen of Wabun-Heim. 

She is queen to all who know her. 
And she rules with magic sway 

By the beauty of her presence 
And her gentle, winning way. 

May her reign be true and noble. 

Filling hearts with thoughts sublime; 

May her name be long remembered, 
Mamie, Queen of Wabun-Heim. 



©aloma 0treet 

There's a dear, little street 

In a fair, distant land. 
Nestling close at whose feet 

Sings the old ocean grand. 
And the song that it sings. 

Dreamy lore from the west. 
To the heart sweetly brings 

Soothing sleep, peace, and rest. 

And the soft, balmy air. 

And the lilt of the song 
O'er wave-kissed Paloma 

Hover day and night long. 
Lo, a charm from this street 

Thrills to life mem'ries blest; 
O'er the miles visions fleet 

Of the ones 1 love best: 



Of brave lads, all replete 

With the hope of life's morn. 
And a lass, pure and sweet 

As the rose newly born. 
There's a face in this dream. 

Bright with earth's noblest love; 
*Tis the grand, mother-theme 

Handed down from above. 

With this light in her eyes. 

And the bairns by her side. 
She can see where hope lies 

Over God's great divide. 
So, shall love lead my feet 

To the true mother, fair. 
To the dear, little street, — 

Lo, she waits for me there. 



On Hilt'si @ea 

Softly blow, fair winds of Heaven I 
Baby's bark is on Life's sea; 

Outward bound the tiny voyager 
Trusts implicitly in Thee. 

Rock the snowy sail with zephyrs, 

Fresh from morning's hopeful dawn; 

Whisper to it, breathing promise 
Of bright skies, fair days unborn. 

With caresses soft and balmy 

Waft this precious bark, so dear. 

Over waters ever sun-kissed. 

Where no storms are ever near. 

Guide it over smiling billows. 
And, as stars set watch above. 

Land it safely in the harbor 

Of Contentment, Peace and Love. 



Kennetd 

Little boy with eyes of brown, 
June's the month you came to town; 
June, when nature's smile, so rife. 
Wooes the roses back to life. 

Keep your June-day smile alway. 
It will help you, night and day. 
To smooth out life's wrinkles deep. 
Help you climb the mountain steep. 

Little Kenneth, child of joy. 
As you journey from a boy 
To your goal, o'er all the miles. 
Keep, Oh keep, your sunny smiles. 

Take a leaf from nature's book; 
Note her wisdom; cast a look 
At the logic of her ways; 
She has bright and rainy days. 

When she weeps her tears bring cheer 
To the thirsty millions here; 
Now she smiles, Lo I wonders grand 
Spring to life o'er all the land. 

There will be, my Kenneth true. 
Bright and rainy days for you; 
Keep your smile; its sunshine bright 
Shall turn to day the darkest night. 



There's a name that's sweeter far. 
Sweeter than the evening star 
When it lends its radiance bright 
To the wiles of witching night; 
Or the lark in shadowy vale. 
Or the song of nightingale; 
Or the first faint blush of dawn 
Making love to June day's morn 
As the drowsy, dewy rose 
O'er the air its perfume throws. 

Oh I that name of names, so dear. 
Would ye know it? Would ye hear 
How I came to love it well? 
Here's the secret I will tell; 
Mary is my pride, my dream. 
And to me all others seem 
Not so sweet, by many a mile. 
No such dimples, no such smile. 
No such eyes of wondrous brown 
In whose depths all troubles drown. 
No such hair of wavy curl, — 
Mary's daddy's little girl. 



Here's to Owen Otto Swahn, 

Mama's darling boy, 
Let us drink a brimming cup. 

Running o'er with joy. 

I can hear Dame Fortune call, 
Calling soft and sweet. 

Telling of the wondrous paths. 
Best for baby's feet. 

And her call with hope is thrilled. 

For I know she hears 
Voices of admiring friends, 

Through the coming years, 

Telling of his noble deeds. 
Almost from life's dawn. 

Honors won, fame achieved by 
Owen Otto Swahn. 



Our Qountrp QaUsil 

Our country calls! Awake I Arise I 
Ye sons of liberty, 

And gather * round the Stars and Stripes 
The emblem of the free. 

Our country calls! O native sons, 
Born under skies so fair. 
The skies wherein Old Glory reigns. 
Help thou to keep it there. 

Our country calls! O aliens true. 
Ye sons of other climes. 
Who live beneath our starry flag. 
Make it thy flag betimes. 

Our country calls! O neutrals fair, 
Who claim just rights for all, 
Thy sense of fairness now should be 
To heed the nation's call. 

Our country calls! 'Tis freedom's cry 
That rings from o'er the sea. 
Her clarion voice around the earth 
Proclaims Man Shall Be Free. 

From far and near, from hill and dale. 
From palace, hut and hall. 
Ye sons of freemen, Hark! To arms! 
It is Our Country's Call. 



